FIRST OFF . . .

A temporary illness forced Michael Jackson to postpone his two sold-out shows at the Los Angeles Sports Arena Monday and Tuesday. Both shows will be rescheduled, Jackson tour officials said, but the dates are still uncertain. Cancellation of the shows came just minutes before Jackson’s Monday night show, and was blamed by Jackson’s personal physician on a case of swollen vocal cords. Concerts scheduled for Sunday, Monday and Tuesday of next week are expected to go on, however.